D.S. Brown’s line of structural bearing assemblies have been providing heavy structure support to the world’s infrastructure for decades. Bridges and other large structures rely on bearing assemblies to transmit forces while accommodating all structural movements.
Versiflex™ High-Load Multi-Rotational (HLMR) Pot and Disc, Elastomeric and Spherical Bearing Assemblies, have been critical to structure support for projects as diverse as Boston’s I-93 Central Artery “Big Dig” to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
“Products such as Versiflex™ HLMR Disc Bearing Assemblies are suited for curved or skewed bridges and complex structures where the direction of rotation varies or cannot be precisely determined,” D.S. Brown National Sales Manager Ben Jacobus said. “Our team is experienced and available to work closely with bridge owners and engineering design consultants to assist in the design, selection and testing of the proper structural bearing assemblies.”
Selecting the Bearing Assembly
The selection of an appropriate bearing assembly for a project is based on the magnitude of vertical and horizontal forces transmitted through the bearing assembly, as well as the amount of displacement and rotation of the superstructure elements. Special attention to the bearing assembly design may be necessary when, for example, larger than normal horizontal loading or uplift situations exist.
D.S. Brown is one of the leading suppliers of structural bearing assemblies. With extensive experience and utilizing the latest technologies, D.S. Brown can efficiently design, manufacture and test Versiflex™ HLMR pot and disc style, spherical, as well as, elastomeric for all types of construction.
Versiflex™ HLMR Disc Bearing Assemblies
Versiflex™ HLMR Disc Bearing Assemblies consist of an elastomeric disc made of unconfined polyether-urethane polymer to accommodate rotation between two metal plates. The vertical loads are transferred by the elastomeric disc. Horizontal shear forces are transmitted between upper and lower plates by a dowel pin mechanism in the center of the bearing.
What are the advantages of Versiflex™ HLMR Disc Bearing Assemblies? Versiflex™ HLMR Disc Bearing Assemblies are multi-rotational, they have a lower profile (vertical height) and are cost efficient.
Bearing Assemblies Projects
Versiflex™ Bearing Assemblies can be found on infrastructure from coast to coast in the United States. Examples include the Blennerhassett Bridge in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the High Five Interchange in Dallas, Texas, the Bobsled and Luge Facility in Lake Placid, New York, Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Boston I-93 Central Artery “Big Dig”, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in New Haven, Connecticut, the Champlain Bridge in Chimney Point, Vermont, the San Rafael Bridge in Richmond, California, the Dolphin-Palmetto Interchange in Miami-Dade County, Florida and the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
D.S. Brown has designed and engineered structural movement, protection and repair solutions for the world’s bridges, highways, and airfields for more than 130 years and has been providing structural bearing assemblies and joint seals for bridges since 1963.
About the D.S. Brown Company
The D.S. Brown Company, founded in 1890, designs, supplies and manufactures engineered rubber, steel and concrete products for the transportation and infrastructure sector. D.S. Brown’s proprietary product line includes expansion joints, structural bearings, and waterproofing systems for constructing and rehabilitating highways and bridges. D.S. Brown’s home office and manufacturing facilities are in North Baltimore, Ohio.
D.S. Brown, a Gibraltar Industries company, is fully integrated, performing and controlling all manufacturing processes internally including Research and Development, Engineering Design/CAD Detailing, Extruding, Molding and Testing and Custom Steel Fabrication and Machining.
Connecting with D.S. Brown
Looking for more information? Connect with our D.S. Brown bridge products representatives – Ben Jacobus, Brent Toller, Mark Francis, Ralph Kleinman and Jack Mazur.
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